Truck.



S. BOTTEESE.

TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14, 1914.

1 1 22,849, Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

ATTORNEYS SHEARMAN BOTTEESE, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Application filed March 14, 1814. Serial No, 324,662.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SHEARMAN BOTTEESE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented an Improvement in Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the corner posts and correlative parts of vehicle bodies, particularly wagons and trucks.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an extensible corner post having means adapted tocooperate with swinging sides and end gates comprising hinged upper and lower sections for maintaining said sides and end gates in upright or lowered position, whether one section of the sides and end gates are to be held in upright or lowered position, or both sections are to be maintained in said positions.

Another object is the provision of a device of the class described which will be simple, durable, efhcient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawing, of which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one corner of the vehicle constructed according to my invention, the end gate being shown in upright position with the sections extended, and the side being shown in upright position with the sections folded, Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the vehicle or at right an gles to the end gate, through the corner post, the end gate being shown partially in section, Fig. 3 represents a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 represents a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line -i4 of Fig. 1, the end gate being shown in lowered position, and the side being shown in lowered posi tion and lying upon the vehicle floor, Fig. 5 represents a top end view of a modified form of extension rod, and Fig. 6 represents a side elevational view of the upper end thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates one corner of a vehicle floor, which may be mounted upon suitable running gear (not shown). At each corner of floor 5 is secured a hollow post 6, in the form of a cylinder having a circular base flange 7 formed at its lower end which rests upon floor 5, and is secured thereto by means of a plurality of bolts 8 extending through said base flange and through the floor. The hollow post registers with the opening 9 extending through the floor.

Slidably positioned in the post 6, is an extension rod 10 which is preferably solid, and which is of a diameter less than the inside diameter of the post, and is slidably positioned in a filler or cylindrical bearing 11, secured in any suitable manner in the upper end of post 6, said extension rod having a sleeve 12 surrounding it at its lower end, said sleeve being of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the pest, whereby when said extension rod is raised, sleeve 12 will snugly fit within post 6 to cooperate with bearing 11 in maintaining the rod in rigid position, said rod when in lowered position, as shown in Fig. 2, Ktending through the opening 9 in floor 5 somewhat below said floor.

The sides A and end gates B comprise upper and lower hinged sections 13, 1e, 15 and 16 respectively, and the sides are disposed near the lateral edges of the floor between the corner posts, while the end gates are disposed adiacent the transverse end edges of the floor between the corner posts.

Secured to the base flange 7 of each corner post, is a bearing frame 17, which is substantially arcuate in form, and conforming to the curve of the post and comprising a section of stout wire or rod bent into the required form and suitably secured to the base plate in spaced relation to the post. The lower sections 14 and 16 respectively of the sides and end gates are provided at their lower edges with pintle pins 18, which at their outer ends are turned upwardly to form hooks, and extend into engagement with the bearing frames betvcen the uprights 19 of said frames, and the adjacent posts, in such a manner that the sides and end gates will be held against tions 13 folded downwardly over section 1 1,

lateral movement whether they be in upright or lowered position. The pintle pins are so formed that the sides and end gates may be removed at will from their position on the floor.

In Fig. 1 the end gate B is shown as in upright position with the section ex: tended, while the side A as is shown in upright position with its section 13 in folded position, andthe rod 10 is shown asextended, in order that latching means carried thereby for the purpose,may be brought into position whereby to hold the end gate in upright position. .This latching means comprises a substantially L-shaped clip bent at its central portion over a sleeve 21 rigidly secured on the upper end of rod 10,

and held in engagement with said sleeve by means of a wire fastening 22 spanning said clip andbent at its ends around the rod 10 below and above the sleeve 21, a cotter pin 12 being extended through rod 10 above the wire 22 for preventing the displacement of said clip and securing means from said rod. The ends of clip :20 he at substantially right angles with each other and in the general directions of the sides and end gates, and pivotally secured to the other faces of the ends of said clip are a pair of latches provided with hook portions 24 at their ends, adapted to engage in openings inthe upper edges of the sections of the sides and end gates.

As shown in Fig. 1, the end gate has its sections extended in upright position, side A is in upright position with its upper secand in order to secure section 1 1 in upright pos tion, or section 16 of the end gate, should said gate and slde be 1n opposite relative positions, there is swiveled on rod 10 by means of an eye 25 formed at its inner end, a latch 26 similar to latches 23 and adapted to engage in openings in the upper edges of sections 1 1 or 16, as the case may be. When the end gates and sides are all in upright position and the sections folded one upon the other, the extension rods will be lowered so that the latches 23 may engage the openings in the upper edges of the lower sections of said, end gates and sides for holding them in upright position.

The end gate B in Fig. 2, is shown as having its sections in folded position, and as being in partially lowered position, and in order to hold said gate in the position shown, or in totally lowered position, a chain 27 is provided, connected at one end to a hook 28 engaging over rod 10 above post 6, said chain being passed through openings 29, surrounded by metal eyes 30 and positioned adjacent the ends of section 16 of the end gate, and between the crossbars of the section 15 of said gate, and engaged at its opposite end with hook 28 by means of a second hook 31 carried by said chain. When the end gates or sides are in the position occupied by the end gate in Fig. 1, the chains mayhang loosely within or without the vehicle body. or may be otherwise disposed as to most conveniently suit the requirements. It is obvious since each of the corner posts is provided with one of the chains, that either one of the end gates or sides may be lowered and held in any lowered position by means of the chains.

The sections of the sides and end gates are provided with hinges that may be disconnected from each other so that the upper sections of the sides or end gates may be removed at will, said hinges including pintle pins 32 secured to the lower sections and hinge leaves 33 in the form of hooks secured to the lower edges of the upper sections and adapted to'engage said pintle pins.-

and 6, the upper endo'f rod 10 is reduced as at Sat, and on the reduced portion is swiveled a clip 35 having arms 36 extending therefrom at right angles to each other, said clip being preferably formed of a solid piece of material, and the upper end of the reduced portion 34' is threaded to receive a nut 37 by means of which the clip 35 may be re,- tained in place. Pivoted to arms 06 on their outer faces, are a pair of latches 38 each formed of a suitable flat piece of material. and provided at their outer ends with curved hooks 39 ofi-set from the latches toward the inner faces thereof, and said hooks are adapted, when in use, to engage in recesses 10 formed within the inner overhanging edges of the binding strips 41 provided on the upper edges of the sections of the sides and end gates of the vehicle. It is my intention to use the modified form of clips and latches on vehicles ofheavy construction, but it will be understood that they may be readily used on vehicles of ordinary con struction, it being at the option of the builder which form he will use.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts thereof, as do not depart from the spirit of the invention'or scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A. device of theclass described, comprising a vehicle floor, a hollow post secured near each corner thereof, a bearing sleeve in the upper end of each post, an extension rodslidable in said sleeve and extending within said post, and normally through an opening in said floor with which said post is in registration, a sleeve carried bythe lower end of said rod and adapted to engage-withinsaid post when said rod is extended, a sleeve secured on said rod above the post, a clip comprising a strip of mate rial bent at right angles around last said sleeve, a wire spanning said strip and engaging said rod on each side of last said sleeve for retaining the clip in position, a skeleton bearing frame positioned in spaced relation to each of said posts at its bottom portion, sides and end gates positioned on said floor between said posts and having pintle pins adapted to engage said bearing frames, said sides and end gates comprising sections removably hinged together, latches pivoted to said clip and adapted to engage in openings in the upper edges of said sections for holding the same in upright position, a latch swiveled on said extension rod and adapted to engage the lower section of one of the side or end gates when the adjacent side or end gate is in extended and upright position, and a chain connected at one end to said rod, said chain adapted to extend through openings in the sections of the sides and end gates, for maintaining them in adjusted lowered position, said sides and end gates provided with metal eyes surrounding said openings.

2. The combination with a vehicle floor having corner posts comprising upper and lower telescoping sections, of a sleeve secured to said upper section, an angular clip engaging said sleeve, a wire spanning said clip at a plurality of points and engaging the upper section above and below said sleeve, extensible sides and end gates positioned on said floor between the posts, said clip having latches pivoted thereto and provided with hooks adapted to engage openings in said sides and end gates for maintaining them in upright position, a latch swiveled on said upper section and adapted to engage one of the sides or end gates when the adjacent side or end gate is in extended upright position, a hook supported by said upper section, and a chain connected to said hook, said chain adapted to be passed through openings provided in said sides and end gates for maintaining them in adjusted lowered position.

3. The combination with corner posts of a vehicle comprising telescoping upper and lower sections, of a clip secured to each upper section, said clip having arms extending at right angles to each other, latches pivoted to said arms and provided with hooks, and extensible sides and end gates positioned between the corner posts, said latches adapted to engage said sides and end gates for holding them in upright position, and a latch swiveled on each upper section below its clip, said latch comprising an arm having a hook formed at its end and adapted to engage an opening in one of the sides or end gates, while the adjacent side or end gate is in extended and upright position.

4:. A. vehicle corner post comprising a hollow cylinder having a base flange surrounding one end thereof, a vehicle floor on which said base flange is adapted to rest, bolts extending through said flange and floor for securing the post on the latter, said floor provided with an opening registering with the interior of the cylinder and of a diameter equal to the inside diameter of said cylinder, a bearing sleeve secured in said cylinder, and an extension rod slidably carried by said sleeve, said rod normally extending through said opening and depending below said floor, said rod provided at its lower end with a sleeve adapted to snugly fit within said cylinder when the extension rod is in extended position.

5. In a vehicle, the combination with extensible corner posts secured to the floor thereof and comprising upper and lower telescoping sections, of sides and end gates, means for removably pivoting said sides and end gates on said floor, said sides and gates comprising upper and lower hinged sections, binding strips secured to the edges of said sections and extending inwardly therefrom, a clip secured on the upper section of each corner post and including arms extending at right angles to each other, hooks pivoted to said arms, and adapted to engage in openings in said binding strips for securing the sides and gates in upright position. a hook swiveled on each upper section of the posts and adapted to engage the lower section of one of the sides or end gates for retaining the same in upri ht position when the adjacent side or end gate is in upright extended position.

6. The combination with a corner post comprising telescoping sections, of a clip secured to one of said sections, said clip including arms extending at right angles to each other, and hooks pivoted to said arms, and means for securing said clips, said means including a sleeve on one of said sections against which said clip engages, and a wire spanning said clip and engaged around its adjacent section on opposite sides of the sleeve.

SHEARMAN BOTTEESE.

Witnesses ALAN F. GARNER, SoLoN C. KEMON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. C. 

